Corpus Rubenianum Ludwig Burchard
A complete overview of Rubens's works. This impressive catalogue, which is based on the lifetime's work of its creator, Ludwig Burchard, includes over 40 books where you can read literally everything about Rubens's work.
1968-…
This ambitious project charts over 2,500 compositions and 10,000 works of art. This work is based on the documentation on artworks belonging to the Rubens specialist Ludwig Burchard (1886-1960), which was gifted to the City of Antwerp in the 1960s. The non-profit organisation Centrum Rubenianum took on responsibility for this massive task. The first volume was published in 1968 and work will still be ongoing on the final volumes over the next few years.
The Corpus Rubenianum Ludwig Burchard contains text and explanations about every work – however small or large – that came into being under Rubens's supervision, ranging from drawings and sketches to graphics and tapestries. Even high-quality copies in the style of Rubens but produced by his pupils, assistants or successors are included.
Each volume deals with a different topic and for each one, a researcher with a passion for the topic was sought so that he or she could come and enrich the work with his/her scientific knowledge. The result? Visitors can fully immerse themselves into Rubens's life and work. The Corpus Rubenianum can be ordered from the publisher, is available in the Rubenshuis library or can be searched online below.
Digital updates
We have been working to make this brilliant work available online since 2013. Each work of art is recorded in digital form, new research findings are added and the best possible image included.
Books that are more than 15 years old are searchable in the form of full-text PDF files. You can leaf through the digitised volumes as if you actually are holding them in your hands.
To make this a reality, we are collaborating with our partner, the Netherlands Institute for Art History (RKD). Our plan is to show all of the works online by 2027.
Via this button, you can also directly access the artwork records registered so far.